Web manipulating mechanism for paper folding machines



Dec. 1, 1931.

WEB MANIPULATING MECHANISM FOR PAPER FOLDING MACHINES H A. W. WOOD Original Filed Feb. 24, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l NIH WEB MANIPULATING MECHANISM FOR PAPER FOLDING MACHINES iginal Filed Feb. 24, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 1, 1931. w WOOD 1,834,665

WEB MANIPULATING MECHANISM FOR PAPER FOLDING MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 24, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 J w IKE/7 x4 7/54Z Dec. 1, 1931. H. A, w. WOOD WEB MANIPULATING MECHANISM FOR PAPER FOLDING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sfieet 4 Original Filed Feb. 24, 1928 QZM W kA b MQMN (\WRNLM QN Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES HENRY A. WISE WOOD, 'OF NEW YORK,

PATENT OFFICE 1v. "Y, Assreavon 'TO woon NEWSPAPER LIACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA WEB..MANIPULATING MECHANISM FOR PAPER FOLDING MACHINES Application filed February 24,1928, Serial 256,712; Renewed May 5, 1931.

The principal objects of thisinvention are to provide means for leading theweb into heretofore and increasing their life; to provide for holding the web in a taut condition against the surface of the cutting cylinder while being perforated by the pins so that the leading edge of a collected newspaper section will be heldmore firmly, thus-reducing the strain on the paper while the pins are pene trating and alsotoiprovide for backing up the paper when it is perforated by the pins on the collecting cylinder; to provide-a yielding member around which the paper'p'assesin passing'to the folding couple adapted togsufficiently ease thestrain on thepaper and on the pins without permitting them to lose their hold, thus keepingthe paper under afirm but gentle tension at this point and: to obviate the tearing out of thepi'ni holes or the break ing of'the pinsyto provide means for creasing the longitudinall edge folded line of the product during its travel from thesformer to the folding cylinders without necessitating the slowing. down of the nipping rolls to a speed as low asthat of the'web and preventing the blowing of the, sheets apart dur- Reference is to be had to the: accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1' isa slde view of cutting-and col.-

of thecams less steep than has been the case ing their rapid feeding tothe folding cou lelecting cylinder arranged according to this invention;

Figs- 2 and 3 are end views of the same showing the parts in two different positions;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the folding couple;

Fig. 5- is a view of the folded product before it enters the: rolls;

Fig. 6 is a similar View showing the completed product;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic end view of the folding couple, and

Fig, 8 isa similar view showing one of theold methods.

This method is designed for use in conncctionwith a folding machine well known inthe newspaper producing art and infact capable of use in connection with any print ing machine in which a plurality of webs are. fed to thefolding couple and productsv having a large number of sheets are-pro duced. It is shown as applied to a folder of an ordinary newspaper pressinwhich the once fold-ed sheetruns from the-former to the cutting and folding cylinders, as indicated, in Fig. 7. When it is desiredto collect or superimpose one product upon: another, the pins on the 'cutti'ngcylinder are put'into operation. sothat they pick up the first section or product that comes along and carry it around the cutting, cylinder, as indicated in thatfigure, and superimpose onit the-fob lowing sectiorn p The sheets are thentaken. fronr the cutting cylinder by the-pins of the folding cylinder 1 3 and carried around the latter and folded in the usual way, one of these sections within the otheri It is customary-at the present time to produce newspapers.containingas many as sixty-four pages. When such a paper is made by the collecting process, it contains two sections of. thirty-two pages each. The leading edge of one ofthese sections, containing sixteen sheets,.is apt tobe blown open when it moves through the air so that whenit arrives at the intersection of the two cylinders, wherethe'pins ofthe collecting cylinder let go and. the pins of the folding cylinder take hold, the leading edges on the collecting cylinder are apt to be'apart. I

This causes it to blow off the pins before they can be released and produces paper chokes and consequent delays.

The collecting cylinder pins have to be withdrawn ahnost instantaneously at the points of intersection as they must keep a firm hold on the sixteen-sheet section until the pins of the folding cylinder are thrust through it and must be withdrawn at once.

Otherwise they would'carry the innermost sheets of the collected section around the second time. When this happens it causes a choke in the folding mechanism with necessary delay and frequently results in damage to the machine, I

It is customary to employ a very steep cam for operating these pins on account of the above reasons. The cam, being so steep, is

battered to pieces ina short time when the imachine runs at hi h speed and the tendency is to keep increasing the speed of these ma chines. One of the features of this invention is to nicrease the are through whlch the pins can be introduced into, and withdrawn from,

the paper section and thus reduce the ab ruptness of the cam for operating them to mitigate the di ficulties above mentioned. I (lo this by wrapping the webs, as they. approach the bite, about the cutting and collecting cylinder through a. considerable are, thus allowing the pins to enter the web at an earlier stage and to be withdrawn more slowly than has been the case heretofore. I also provide for holding the web down around the collecting cylinder and contacting with it at a point near where the pins penetrate.

Another feature is the backing up of the web where it is penetrated so that the pins will enter it more easily and the strain on.

the pins is reduced. Also the pins on the folding cylinder engage the web when it is backed up by the cutting and collecting cylinders, as will be seen by comparison of Figs. '7 and 8, so t-hatin both cases the pins penetrate a web supported on the opposite folded line of the product as it passes from the former tothe folded cylinders. This prevents a bulky fold at this point which might allow the sheets to get apart on account of the air getting into it and also prevents buckling because of the sharp crease along the edge.

jects above mentioned, I pivot on the folder frame, on studs 14, a frame 15. Only one of the two studs 14 is shown. This frame 15 carries a shaft 16 on which is a roll 17 extending across the machine. This roll has recesses 17 for receiving the pins 13. This frame 15 is normally forced downward by springs 18 against a stop 19 but is capable of yielding backwardly against a stop 20, these stops being adjustable. This roll is placed in such position that the web or section of paper coming down from the former folder 29 above will be directed out from a direct path therefrom to the folding couple, as shown in Fig. 7. It assumes a path of travel in which it is considerably wrapped about the cutting and collecting cylinder 11, as shown in the other figures. This roller needs no other operation or attention, being forced 'yieldingly into place and capable of moving baokwardly against the springs whenever special resistance is encountered.

I have shown on the same frame 15, the

means for forming the crease, although it could be placed at any other convenient position. This takes the form of a shaft 21 pinned to one frame 15 and carrying a pivoted arm -22'which carries a creasing roller 23 mounted on a stud carried by this pivoted arm 22. Around the shaft 21 is a coiled spring 24 which is fixed at one end to a collar 25 that can be adjusted around the shaft and held in adjusted position by a screw 26. The spring is secured at the other end to the arm 22. This spring holds the creasing roller down against the yielding roller 17. The shaft 16 is geared to the shaft of the cutting and collecting cylinder by gears 27 so that it is driven positively but the creasing roller is driven only by friction.

'These parts are shown as used in connection with the ordinary knurled nipping rollers 28 receiving the folded web from the usual folder former 29. It will be understood of course that the section of the newspaper containing a large number of sheets is delivered below the former so it is folded longi: tudinally on itself at one edge.

The nipping rollers 28 are arranged ordinarily so as to run at a greater speed than the web, the efiect being to keep the web taut and to do this whether the printing blankets on .theprinting press are new or worn down.

They bear on the margins of the sheet only. On account of their running faster than the sheet, it is not practical to setthem hard againstone another because they wouldtlien tear pieces out of the paper on account of their excess speed. T'hey are merely close enough to exercise'a drawing actionbut not tight enough to tear the paper. The fold, therefore, comes through in about the form indicated in Fig. 5. IVith a large product having perhaps sixteensheets this loose fold is dangerous. When runmng at high speedthe air is apt to getin and blow the sheets apart, causing a choke. .Anothersdanger is that the-folded line is apt to buckle while,

being carried around the collecting cylinder. This prevents the product from lying smooth on the collecting cylinder and wrinkles the paper. The paper is held onthe pins loosely which is apt to cause further trouble.

By placing a pair of creasingrrolls between the nlpping rollers and folding couple,'the

folded line of the whole product is ironed down to an even thickness as indicated in Fig. 6, thus eliminating the dangers above mentioned. It is for this purpose that the creasing roll 23 is used. The spring is made strong enough to crease the fold of a large product but adapted to yield enough,

to adjust itself suitably to any change, that may be made in the number of sheets run through the machine. Also its'force can be adjusted by using the screw .26. This roll preferably is made smooth and can be run at webspeed or a little faster if desired. It is convenient to run this creasing roller in cooperation with the yielding roller 17,.as I have described, thus forming a creasing couple, but a separate creasing couple located elsewhere will perform this function in accordance with this. invention: Ifeither of these rollers 17 or 23 is roughened or knurled on-the surface they will have to be run substantially at paper speed.

The yielding roller 17, as stated, is used to secure a Wide are of contact f the inco-m-- ing paper on one of the cylinders of the folding couple, thus increasing the length of t me during which the pin cams and'the pinshave to operate so that they can movemore slowly. This permits the making of the pin-cams less steep and more durable above stated. The

use of a roller at this point forproducing this result is very convenient and permits of combining with'the creaser roller 23 in a very simple manner; v

It will be seen that the leading edge ofthe folded product as shown in Fig. 7, is held "to the-cylinder 11 by the wrap of the web-part way around it and that the pins now begin to withdraw immediately, thusleaving the leading edge of the sectionbound to the cylinder by the layer of the incoming web wrapped over it. It is held inthis way more firmly than by the pins in the old construction shown in Fig. 8. These two figures are presented to show how much more slowlythe )ins can be withdrawn as shown, Fi n. 7.;

than "as shown in Fig. 8. I

Another'advantage of this is that: the leadi-nge'd'geis flattened and under firm-control by the time itreaches the intersection of'the.

cylinders where it anust pass from the colleet-lng'cyhnder 11 to the-folding cylinder. 10.

I findthat. I. am able 't-odouble thespeedzat.

which large collected.newspapers may be run through the folder by this mechanlsm.

p The way: in whichthe web is backednpv when the pins enter it from the cutting and collecting cylinderwill-be' obvious from. an

inspection of- Fig.7 and it is to be observed;

-en ce of. thecylinder gradually grows less and it feedswless and'less paper to the folding cylinder When the blankets are replaced with fresh ones more paper is suddenly fed to the folders. It has been necessary, therefore to give the folding and collectingycylinders a-dianieterlarger thanwouldbe required mathematically solthat their, pins will have a firm hold on the product even when. new blankets are put in. "On this .account th'e pins are-apt totearthe paper. or produce long slitsin it when the product is'fed by oldblanlretsr The strain on the pinsis great and they sometimes break; ItIis forthis purpose that the roller 17 is made yielding so that it will give suiii'ciently to ease the strain on thepaper and on the pins in accordance with the amount of paper being fed to it. In other Words, this roller I? acts as a tension guide and .preventsthe paper being put to a rigid strain, due to the ch'ange'in size of the impression cylinder. v wItwill be understood, of course, that the rollerorguide for producing this result can bemadeseparate fronithe yielding roller'23 andplaced elsewhere in the machine if desired.

Although I have illustrated and described only one :form of the invention I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited inthese respects but what I'- do claimis 1. The combination witha folding couple and means for delivering the web thereto, of means-for deflecting the web out of itsnornal straight path straight into the bite of the folding couple and wrapping it part way around the collecting cylinder member of said couple before it passes into the bite.

2. The combination with a folding and collecting couple, of means for deflecting the web just before it passes into the space between the folding and collecting cylinders and wrapping it part way around the collecting cylinder to enable that part of the web to bear on the leading edge of the collected section to assist in holding the said leading cdge while in the act of collectin 3. The combination with a folding couple, of means for wrapping the incoming web around the leading edge of the first layer on the cutting and collecting cylinder throughout a material part of the circumference of the said cutting and collecting cylinder to help hold the leading edge in position w en it comes to the space between the two cylinders of the couple. I

1. The combination with a folding and collecting couple, of a yielding guide arranged to engage the web and deflect it laterally against the surface of the cutting and collecting cylinder, to wrap the incoming web around the said cuttingand collecting cylinder throughout a part of its circumference.

5. The combination with a folding couple, comprising a folding cylinder and a cutting cylinder, of a roller supported above the cutting cylinder, but spaced therefrom for deflecting the web just before it passes into the space between the folding and cutting cylinders, and yielding means for forcing the roller toward the cutting cylinder.

6. The combination with a folding couple comprising a cutting cylinder, of a roller mounted in the normal path of the web thereto, means for yieldingly forcing it toward the web and means for rotating the roller positively with the cutting cylinder.

. 7. The combination with a folding couple,

ofa frame pivoted on the machine having a bearing, a roller carried in said bearing and extending from end to'end of the folding couple, said roller being located in a position to deflect the web so it will wrap part way around one of the cylinders of said couple.

8. The combination with a folding couple. of a frame pivoted. on the machine having a bearing, a roller carried in said bearing, said roller being located in a position to deflect the web so it will wrap part .way around one of the cylinders of said couple, and yielding means for forcing said roller toward the adjacent cylinder.

9. The combination with a folding couple, comprising a folding cylinder and a cutting cylinder, of a roller supported above the cutting cylinder, but spaced therefrom for defleeting the-web just before it passes into the space between the folding and cutting cylinders, yielding means for forcing the roller toward the cutting cylinder, and adjustable stops for limiting the motion of the yielding roller toward and from the cutting cylinder.

10. The combination with a folding couple.

ing cylinder thanv a line drawn tangent to the two cylinders at the point of contact;

11. The combination with a folding couple of emoalin )ins on the cuttin cylinder of;

a yielding guide in a position to engage the web as it passes thereto and deflect the web toward: said empaling pins, whereby the guide adapted to yield slightly when the pins penetrate the web and the strain on. the paper will be eased at this time without permitting the pins to lose their hold.

12. The combination with a folding couple coi'nprising a cutting and collecting cylinder and movable pins carried thereby for penetrating the web, of means for guiding the web in a path toward the point of contact of said cylinders, such that the pins will penetrate the collected section and second section of the web at a point near the top of the cut ting and collecting cylinder.

'13. The combination with a folding couple comprising a cutting and collecting cylinder and movable pins carried thereby for penetrating the web, of means for guiding the web over the surface of the cutting and collecting cylinder toward the point of ccntact of said cylinders to such an extent that the pins will penetrate the collected and second sections of the webwhile they are in contact with each other and throughout a considerable distance along the surface of the cutting and collecting cylinder, thereby permitting the pins to have a comparatively slow motion of insertion and withdrawal.

14. The combination with a folding couple comprising a cutting and collecting cylinder having pins for penetrating the web, of means so arranged as to cause the pins to enter an incoming web throughout. a comparatively lon distancealong the circumference of the cylinder and thus have an opportunity to enter the web and leave it at a comparatively low rate of speed.

1.5. The combination with a folding couple having empaling pins, of a yielding guide for the web located in position to cause the web to wrap part way around the cutting and collecting cylinder before it engages the folding cylinder, said guide having spaces for receiving the empaling pins of the cutting and collecting cylinder and'areas separating said spaces for backing up the web when the pins penetrate said spaces.

16. The combination with a folding couple comprising a folding cylinder, a cutting and collecting cylinder and impaling pins on the latter, of a guide in position to back up the Web positively when the impaling pins on the cutting and collecting cylinder penetrate it. 17 The combination with a folding couple comprising a folding cylinder and a cutting and collecting cylinder and pins carried by each cylinder for penetrating the web and feeding it forward, of means arranged between said cylinders for backing up the web when the pins on the cutting and collecting cylinder penetrateit.

18. The combination with a folding couple comprising a folding cylinder and a cutting and collecting cylinder, of means whereby the web is backed up firmly by the cutting and collecting cylinder throughout a material arc of its circumference when it comes to the position for receiving the pins of the folding cylinder. 1

19. The combination with a foldingcouple comprising a folding cylinder and a cutting and collecting cylinder, and reciprocable pins carried by said cylinders for penetrating the web and feeding it positively, of means for directing the Web to the couple in such a path that the web will be backed. up by the cutting and collecting cylinder when the pins of the folding cylinder penetrate it.

20. The combination with a folding couple and means for guiding a longitudinally folded web thereto, of a creasing couple located at one edge of the web for engaging the longitudinal fold at that edge and flattening it out before it reaches the folding couple.

21. The combination with a folding couple, of a guide roller located in a position to engage the web, and a creasing roller engaging the surface of the guide roller at its end only for creasing the longitudinal fold at that edge, with mechanical means for driving the guide roller, the creasing roller being driven by friction against the running web.

22. The combination with a folding couple, of a yielding roller located in a position to divert the web from a straight path and wrap it slightly around one ofthe members of the folding couple, a yieldingly mounted creasing roller engaging the surface of the yielding roller at the edge of the web for creasing the longitudinal fold, and means for positively driving the yielding roller at approximately web speed, said creasing roller being driven by friction against the running web.

23. The combination with a folding couple and a yieldingly mounted roller engaging the web and diverting it out of its normal path, of a frame on which one end of said yielding roller is movably mounted, a nonrotatable shaft on said frame, an arm pivoted on the shaft, a spring for normally moving the arm toward the roller, and a creasing roller mounted on the arm andfree to turn on said shaft and normally pressing against the yielding roller.

24. The combination with a folding couple and a guide roller engaging the web, of a frame on which said guide roller is movably mounted, a shaft on sald frame, an arm pivoted on the shaft, a spring for normally swinging the arm toward the roller, and a creasing roller mounted on the arm and free to turn on said shaft and normally pressing against the yielding roller. 1

25. In a paper web folding device, the combination with a longitudinal folder, of a transverse folding mechanism, a web propelling device'placed between the longitudinal folder and the transverse folding mechanism, means for wrapping the web around a part of one member of the transverse folding mechanism and applying a yielding tension to the web, and means positioned between the longitudinal folder and the transverse folder for creasing the folded line of the longitudiually folded web.

26. The combination with a folding couple comprising a folding cylinder and a collecting cylinder provided with impaling pins, the latter adapted to collect one product upon the other, with means other than the folding cylinder for reinforcing the Web while the impaling pins of the collecting cylinder penetrate it.

27. The combination with a folding and collecting couple, of means for deflecting the web over against and part way about the collecting cylinder, the said deflecting means having clearances for the pins carried by the collecting cylinder so that the said pins shall have a free passage through the deflecting means.

28. The combination with a folding and collecting couple, of means for deflecting the web over against and part way about the collecting cylinder, the said deflecting means being so positioned as to afford clearance space for the pins between the deflecting means and the collecting cylinder.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature. 

